Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on October 6, 2025.
Humphrey Polepole: Former Ambassador and Government Critic Reportedly Abducted
A former Tanzanian ambassador and outspoken critic of the government was reportedly abducted from his home on Monday, raising fears of escalating political tensions just weeks before the country’s October 29, 2025, general election.
Humphrey Polepole, a prominent figure within the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, was reportedly taken by unknown individuals from his home in Dar es Salaam on the night of October 6, 2025.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Tanzania, a nation preparing for a general election on October 29, 2025, amidst a climate of what human rights organisations have described as “deepening repression.”
Images and videos circulating on social media showed signs of a violent struggle at Polepole’s residence in Ununio, with broken doors and bloodstains visible inside and outside the house. His brother, Godfrey Polepole, confirmed the abduction to the BBC, stating that the family had filed a report with the police.
Polepole’s abduction is the latest in a troubling series of enforced disappearances that have plagued Tanzania in recent years. According to UN human rights experts, more than 200 cases of enforced disappearance have been recorded in the country since 2019, with the Legal and Human Rights Centre documenting approximately 100 cases between 2015 and February 2025.
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Dar, Pwani and Arusha Continue to Lead as Tanzania’s Top Investment Hubs
The Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) has announced that the regions of Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Arusha have continued to lead in attracting new investment projects between July and September 2025.
Speaking to journalists while presenting the authority’s first-quarter report, TISEZA Director General Mr. Gilead Teri said the institution successfully registered 201 investment projects worth TSh 6.18 trillion, expected to create 20,800 jobs for Tanzanians and drive technological and economic growth nationwide.
Of these, Dar es Salaam recorded the highest number of investments, with 79 projects, accounting for 39 percent of all registered projects, representing a total capital value of TSh 2.03 trillion and expected to generate 8,073 jobs.
Pwani Region followed with 29 projects valued at TSh 417.99 billion, anticipated to create 3,478 jobs, while Arusha registered 16 projects worth TSh 261.02 billion, expected to provide 951 jobs.
Other regions making the top five were Dodoma, with 16 projects valued at TSh 455.33 billion, and Mwanza, with 12 projects worth TSh 482.97 billion.
In the final quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (April–June), when the country officially transitioned from the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to the unified TISEZA, the authority registered 250 projects worth approximately TSh 8.48 trillion, expected to generate 35,756 jobs—with Dar es Salaam, Pwani, and Arusha again leading the way.
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Chaos and Legal Wrangling Mark Tundu Lissu Treason Trial Resumption
The highly anticipated treason trial of CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu resumed on Monday in a storm of procedural objections, accusations of police overreach, and a dramatic physical altercation between a state attorney and a defence supporter.
The session, which marked the beginning of the substantive hearing, was dominated by Mr Lissu challenging the court’s management of the case and the conduct of police outside the courtroom, before the prosecution called its first witness—a senior police officer whose testimony was immediately contested as irrelevant.
Before testimony could begin, Mr Lissu, who is representing himself, raised three key issues, setting a confrontational tone for the day.
Firstly, he protested that police had barred his named supporters from entering the courtroom, including his brother, Dr Stephen Linco, who had travelled from Germany. He demanded to know who was in charge of the proceedings.
“I want to know, is this a police court or a court of the United Republic of Tanzania?” Lissu asked the bench. “Who decides who enters, the police or the court? This is not a court-martial. The judges are superior.”
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Tanzanian Peacekeepers in CAR Honoured with Prestigious UN Medals
The Tanzanian Eighth Battalion (TANBAT 08), serving under the United Nations peacekeeping mission, has been awarded the UN Medal for its exceptional contribution to stability and civilian protection in the volatile Central African Republic (CAR).
In a grand ceremonial parade held on October 6, 2025, in Berberati, in the south-west of the country, more than 500 Tanzanian soldiers received the UN Defence of Peace and Unity medals.
According to information published Monday, the awards recognise their dedicated service in protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian activities, and strengthening stability in conflict-affected regions of the country.
The medal presentation was presided over by the Deputy Head of the UN Peacekeeping Forces in CAR, Major General Maychel Asmi, who was the guest of honour. In his address, Maj Gen Asmi commended TANBAT 08 for its leadership, discipline, and the remarkable camaraderie displayed throughout its operational tour.
The commanding officer of TANBAT 08, Lieutenant Colonel Theofil Nguruwe, stated that the honour was a testament to the loyalty, hard work, and patriotism of his troops in fulfilling their international duties.
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